Haqqani Network

The Taliban on Friday formally announced their new leader, saying he had been running the insurgent group’s operations for years in the absence of former leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. The new leader, Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, served as military aviation chief when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. He was Omar’s deputy and is said to be close to the intelligence establishment in Pakistan, which maintains ties with Taliban leaders based there. Like his former boss, who was reclusive and mysterious even in death, little is known publicly about Mansoor. He takes over from Omar the formal title of “amir-al-mumineen,” or “leader of the faithful, and...

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The Taliban on Friday formally announced their new leader, saying he had been running the insurgent group’s operations for years in the absence of former leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.
The new leader, Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, served as military aviation...

The confirmation of former Afghanistan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar’s death reverberated Thursday as the insurgent group reportedly selected a new leader but signaled growing dissension over peace talks with the Afghan government.
The Taliban...

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...

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President Obama said Thursday he would not apologize for trading five Taliban detainees for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who the White House says could have been killed if details had leaked before his release last weekend.
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